George W. Bush's greatest foreign policy challenges over the next four years may well originate in the Asia-Pacific, where two-thirds of the world's population reside, and where probably two-thirds of the world's major geopolitical crises fester.
Yet, neither Bush nor his two top foreign-policy picks have any particular feel for Asia. While the widely respected Colin Powell, nominated for secretary of state, and the widely admired Condolezza Rice, appointed to the top National Security position, bring enormous common sense to these two key jobs, they also, alas, bring a traditional European orientation.
That's not unusual for an incoming administration; the Asia-Pacific region usually gets short shrift. But this time the slight may prove serious. For the outgoing Clinton crowd, as it is the first to admit, has hardly left behind for Bush a placid, settled geopolitical Pacific. While there are some gains to be built on, there are many potential tinderboxes. Here's a checklist of major opportunities and potential crises for the incoming Asia-Pacific-challenged administration: